North Of Eden, 28, Dies

North Of Eden (Ire), a longtime foundation mare of Bridlewood Farm, passed away from natural causes and has been buried at the Ocala-based farm's Thoroughbred cemetery. She was 28.

Bred in Ireland and by the sire Northfields, North Of Eden is the dam of three grade I winners – Paradise Creek (1989), Wild Event (1993), and Forbidden Apple (1995) – who captured 19 total graded stakes, including six grade Is, among them. Paradise Creek earned over $3.4 million, Forbidden Apple earned over $1.6 million, and Wild Event was just shy of being North Of Eden's third millionaire with career earnings of $937,274.

“North Of Eden was and will always be the pride of Bridlewood Farm,” said George G. Isaacs, general manager at Bridlewood in a statement. “To be blessed and associated with such a magnificent blue-hen mare is every serious horse breeder's dream come true. The odds of any mare having two, let alone three, grade I winners, another SW, and a daughter becoming a grade I producer, is truly astronomical if you think about it. She was revered here at the farm because we all knew how special she was. She was laid to rest in our private cemetery here at the farm.”

Other significant produce includes stakes winner I'm Very Irish (1991). North Of Eden is also the granddam of European champion David Junior, group I winner and earner of over $4.1 million, through her daughter Paradise River (1994). Bridlewood bred all of her offspring as well as David Junior.

The 10 winners produced by North Of Eden earned nearly $6.5 million at the track.

Out of the Sassafras (Fr) mare Tree of Knowledge (Ire), North Of Eden was a half sister to Theatrical (Ire). She was buried alongside such Bridlewood stalwarts as My Gallant, Halo's Image, Sugar's Image, Jolie Jolie, Sharp Kitty, Frosty Skater, Gallant Libby and more.